Beachy Head 30th October, 2009

Record shot of a Sparrow Hawk soaring over Whitbred Hollow.

Drove to Whitbred Hollow and arrived at 7.00 am to an overcast but mild misty morning with a light SE wind. Walked directly down to the Gully and beach below Cow Gap and then made my way up into the Hollow and re-located the abietinus type Chiffchaff feeding in the Sallow bush leading to the mist-net run, with 3 Chiffchaffs. RDME had ringed it yesterday. Interesting plumage appeared overall pale compared with the other Chiffs with pale creamy underparts. Returned to the Headland and did the majority of the sites and met up with RDME & GG at Belle Toute wood. No sign of yesterdays Yellow Browed Warbler.

Migrants seen: 7 Chiffchaffs, 14 Redwings W over the Hollow, 1 Fieldfare near Belle Toute wood, 400 Woodpigeons west, and the Water Rail was calling in the Hollow.

Black Redstart in the Old Trapping Area taken earlier this month.

28th October, 2009. Beachy Head

Arrived just before 7.00 am with Doreen to a beautiful calm warm morning. As we arrived at Birling, the car park was virtually full due to the arrival overnight of a film crew filming Brighton Rock. We worked all the usual sites on the Headland including the Cliff Path & RDME was ringing in the Hollow. Generally the area was very quiet, with very little moving over but the weather made up for this. Birds seen included a Brambling & 2 Redpolls in the wood, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 7 Stock Doves West and a single Dartford Warbler in the gorse above Belle Toute wood. RDME had a very successful morning catching Redpolls with 65 ringed.

Brent Goose in field opposite Belle Toute wood.

Adult Peregrine over the Hotel Garden.

Kestrel hovering over the Hotel Garden.

Kestrel in Cow Gap.

Fox at Birling.

Chiffchaff in the Hotel Garden.

October, 2009

Since returning from the Shetlands in early October, I have only visited Beachy Head on about 6 days during the month. Other than several Firecrests & Ring Ouzels little of note have been seen, although 2 Yellow Browed's have been seen with 1 at Birling found by Matt Eade, and the second trapped by RDME in the Hollow.